System



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. WESTON.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM. No. 316,709. Patented Apr.'Z8, 1885.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. WESTON.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM.

No. 316,709. Patented Apr. 28, 1-885.

Q l J fittest. fiz'entor:

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UNITED STA E PA T I r EDWARD WESTON, on NEWARK, NEW'JERsEY, jnssicn' oit ,Tof rrIELUNi-TED 1a;

. srn'rns ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, on NEW murmur-ra I ELE'GTRI C-LIGHTING SY S T"EM. ill 1 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,709, datedApril 28,1885. j

Application filed November 28,1884. (No model.) I I Y v To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, EDWARD WESTON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and 5 $tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Lighting Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawall in that circuit beextinguished, by substituting equivalent. resistances for the lamps v withdrawn, and also for interrupting the circuit through said resistances; or, in other words, breaking the cross-circuit when all the I, lamps in the same are withdrawn. 1 In another form of multiple-series distribution theline at certain points is divided into, a number of branches, and. the lamps are included singly or in limited numbersin each branch. .A considerable number of such groups of derived'circui-ts maybe formed inthc same line,the groups being in series' To this particular form of ject being to replace extinguishedlamps 9r other like devices of any group by equivalent resistances, so that the distribution of current inthe branches or derived circuits may always be uniform, and also to provide a final cut-out for closinga circuit of low resistance around a group of derived circuits when all the lamps of such" group have been extinguished. Y In carrying out my invention I employ with each group of lamps a supplemental circuit containing an QIBOUIO-IilflgflGtiQ circuit controller, andhaving as many breaks as there are lamps in the group. The low-resistance 5o shunt is interrupted so long-as anylamps are" ings accompanying and forming a part of the circuit my present invention relates, the ob active, but is closed by the-supplemental circuit through the instrumentality of the circuit-controlleras soon as all the lamps are extinguished; In an application of evendate herewith I have shown and describeda sys tern of this character in which the supplemental circuit contained a series of breaks open during the operation of the lamps, but closed by the mechanism that extinguished them or that is brought into operation by 6o,

theirrextinguishment. My present application, however, is basedon a different arrangement of the controlling-circuit, which is as follows:- The breaks are in cross or multiple circuits between the positive and negative con- 6 5 'ductors of the controlling-circuit, so that the circuit is not actually broken unless all the breaks are open, but completed if any one of the breaks is closed. The switches that control the lamp-circuits also control the branches containing the breaks, the latter being closed by the-i'iwitches when they close the lamp-circuits,and conversely. 'It follows from this an rangement that if any lamp isburning the controlling-circuit is complete through one of its 7 5 branches, but that when all the lamps have been turned off the controlling-circuit is interrupted. By taking advantage of this 1 cause the interruption of the'controlling-circuit to close the low-resistance, shunt around the group of lamps, as will be hereinafter de' scribed.

The c0ntro1'ling circuit may be either independent of the main or lighting circuit, in

which case a battery is used to supply the nec 8 5 essary current, or itmay be in derivation tothe main circuit, in which case some auxiliary devices may be employed for insuring the proper action of the circuit-controller operated by it;

The detailsof the system may be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a diagram of the system, showing'the use of an independent controlling-cir- 5 cuit; Fig. 2,-a diagram of the same with a controlling-circuit in derivation to the main.

LetA designate the conductor-of a main. line; B B, a given number of divisions of such line brought into derivation or multiple arc I00 and united to the main line by the conductors O G. In each branch or division 13 is included an electric incandescent lamp, D, -or some similar translating device, this being a'wellknown modification'of the'plan or system for distributing current known as multiple series. In each branch B is also an electromagnetic cut-out, E, and abreak, F. Around each lamp and break is aresistance-circuit, G, containing a resistance-coil, R, equivalent to one lamp and connected with and controlled by .the cut-out E, the purpose in thisbeing to provide for the automatic substitution of the resistance for the lamp, whether the latter be extinguished by its switch or extinguished by the destruction of .its carbon.

' H-H designate switches to be operated by' hand for the purpose of interrupting the circuit throughthe lamps when so desired.

K K are the positive and negative wires of the supplemental or controlling circuit, and k the branches or cross-circuits between the same. I

In one of the main wir es K K: is included an electro-magnet, L, andin each branch k is a break,'lVI, in proximity to one of the breaks in thelampcircuits, so that both are controlled by the same switc The switches H are provided with double contacts and so arranged with reference to the breaks in the lamp-circuits and the corre sponding breaks in the controlling-circuit as to close or open both by the same movement.

. In Fig.1 a small battery, N, is shown in-the controlling-circuit K. The electro-magnet L is provided with a pivoted armature-lever, Z, that forms the contact-lever of-a switch in the shunt-circuit 0 around the entire group of derived circuits and all the devices included,

therein. If one or more of the la'imp'sare active the circuit K is closed through one or more of its branches and the magnet-L energize'd. 1 The armature-lever Z will'therefore be drawn away from its stop and the circuit 0 interrupted, The circuit K is broken only when all the lamps are out and all its branches interrupted, in which eventthe entire use current passes through the, shunt O The insertion'of a single lamp evidently breaks the shunt O, directing the current through the activelamp and the resistance-coils of the remaining lamps. a 1

' In Fig. 2 the circuit K. is derived from theinain line and contains no' battery; but its arrangement in other respects is the same as thatdescribed. In this case I have shown as a means of preventing the possible vibration tr the contact-lever ot' the electro-m'agw net the following: A spring-impelled contactlever, m, and a pivoted armature-lever, n,

' witha catch, n, that engages with the lever m and holds it out of contact with its" stop -While the magnet is energized the arma.

tare-lever is held in engagement with the lever m; but when the circuit K is broken the spring S retracts the armature and sets the lever m free, thus completing circuit 0. This or some equivalent arrangement is desirable in this case, for the reason the relativeresistances of the circuits 0 and K are such that when both are closed the amount of current that flows through the latter is ex-. tremely small. When one or more lamps are to be again connected with the circuit, the circuit O is broken and the I levers set by hand.

' In carrying outmy invention I may use a great variety of mechanical devices operating I on the general principle herein described.

The controlof the circuit-K may, for example, beeffected not only by the manual switches, but by the automatic switches or cut-outs, as will be readily seen by reference to the patents above mentioned, and in other respects the system may be modified within the limits of my invention.

' In practice a number of the groups of 'de- I rivedcircuits described are formed in series in the circuit A, ,and some means used to regulate the current generated, so that a uniform flow of cur-rent will be maintained. I

It is possibleto run-more than one lamp in each branch by-duplicating the devices de-; scribed, and by making such other obvious changes as the circumstances of the case require. I

What I-claim is I i 1.-' In a system of electrical distribution, in which a main line is divided at intervals into a group or given, number of branches, the

which amain line is divided at intervals into;

a group of a given number of branches, the combination, with each branch in a group, of an electric. lamp, a manual switch, an automatic switch or cut-out, and a resistance for replacing the lamp, and with each group of branches, of a shunt of low resistance, a supplemental controlling-circuit having multiple or cross connections between its positive and negative wires, each containinga break controlled by a lamp-switch, a circuit-closer in the shunt-circuit, and a magnet-in the sup plemental controlling-circuit for operating-the same, as andfor the purpose described.

r 3. In a system of electrical distribution, in

which a main line is divided at intervals into a group or given number of branches, the combination, with each branch in a, group, of an electric lamp, a switch and a resistance to take the-place of the lamp, and with each group of branches, of a, shunt-circuit of ]ow I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set resistance, a controlling-circuit derived from my hand this 25th ,da'yof November, 1884.

the main and containing breaks that are 0011- trolled the lamp-switches, an electro-mag- DDWARD WESTON 5 net in the controlling-circuit, and a circuit- Witnesses;

closer in the shunt-circuit operated thereby, A. BEOKMEYER,

as and for the purpose set forth, JOHN C. YOUNG. 

